Kennet Valley Social Scene - 280
Michael Field writes:
This is the third year running that I have had the task of writing a report for our group for the Social Scene in January, just before our Christmas party, and when published will be just coming up to our AGM, so I would like to start with numbers, or rather attendance at our monthly meetings.
During 2013 when I took over as membership secretary I set the task of attaining 40 people to at least one meeting in 2014. Not only did we break the record before then, with 44 to our October 2013 meeting, at our AGM in 2014 we had 45 people, and have exceeded the 40 target once again since, also hitting 39 on three occasions, so a special thank you to all our members for supporting the group.
Our Christmas party, which was held on 17th - 18th January was at a new venue this time, a Best Western Plus Hotel at Wroxton, near Banbury, and I am sure it will have been a great success, it certainly looks good, with the option to stay two nights, and the party and disco on the Saturday. I would like to thank Karen Woolnough for all her hard work in researching and booking this new venue for us. Unfortunately, attending is just too late for this report, but I am sure it will follow in the next issue.
The next major stepping stone is our AGM. Held at the March club night on Wednesday 4th at our usual venue, The Winning Hand at Padworth, we are all very much looking forward to seeing our GL, Phil Horsley back at the helm, after having forcibly taken a back seat for far too long, due to illness. On this point I would like to say a special thank you also to Eddie Mace, who as vice GL has stepped into Phil's shoes for over a year, to keep the committee on it's toes. We are also looking for a new Treasurer, as Dave Westwood has indicated he wishes to step down after umpteen years fiddling, no sorry balancing the books for us. I'm sure I would be right in saying we all owe Dave a huge thank you for the work he has done for KVG. If you are on the committee, or would like to join and take on this appointment, I'm sure Dave would be more than grateful!
It is still early in the year, and a lot of events are yet to be planned, but some in the making include Drive-It Day on 26th April, Donington Historic Festival on 2nd and 3rd May, as well as the regular and popular Easter time shows, Wyke Down and Coleford Carnival that we often attend. There is also the MG & Triumph Spares Day at Stoneleigh on 1st March, which is a good event to get all those bits and pieces to keep your car spick and span throughout the year, or for that obscure item that has been evading you during an overhaul.
We have our planned return skittles match against the Glavon's, on Saturday 14th March, with food available afterwards. It was a great event in 2014, well at least for the Glavon's, who walked away with the trophy after an easy win! The gauntlet is down! We are returning to last year's venue, The White Hart at Stratton, Swindon, who were great hosts, and also fed us well. Come along and join us on the day, from 11:00am onwards.
We do need some more member input for mid-monthly's and for KVG run events, so we all need to get our thinking caps on, and come up with ideas and arrangements to fill in a few empty gaps in our calendar.
As this report publishes in mid-February, I know Christmas will now seem in the distant past, many presents will have been used, worn, or stowed away, but one long-awaited present for us over the Christmas period is still very much in the limelight, our new grandson, born 29th Dec. Another potential member, one day perhaps?
As mentioned earlier, our next meeting is our AGM, and it would be great to match or exceed the attendance of 2014, so as well as welcoming Phil back, your support and vote is all important to the group, so hopefully see you at the Winning Hand on Weds 4th March. All members and visitors are equally welcome